Compare towns
Athens vs Stratton vs Ripton vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Athens | Stratton | Ripton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
532 |
508 |
680Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Stratton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.